Newcomer forum in Surrey aims to demystify police role in Canada
Officers work to build trust, shatter myths
Mounties in Surrey, B.C., are working to build trust with refugees and other newcomers to Canada.
"The countries that they were from, there was genuine mistrust or outright avoidance of the police," said Sgt. Paul Hayes with Surrey RCMP.
Officers held a forum in Arabic at Guilford Park Secondary on Wednesday night to help address those issues and answer questions from the audience of about three dozen people.
Hayes has been working with Syrian refugees since they started arriving and says trust has been one of the biggest hurdles. He said the goal of the forum was to help them understand who is on their side and how they can help keep their community safe.
Sam Jaroudi, a civilian member of the RCMP who has been travelling across the country to help police connect with Syrian refugees, also led the workshop.
"We just wanted to put a positive image and show that police are approachable and they are there to help," Jaroudi said. "They are a part of your community, they coach hockey, they coach soccer, they are your neighbour."
Exposing myths
Syrian refugees Eman Elhalaqa and her husband attended last night's event.
Speaking through an interpreter, she said people back in Syria told her any interaction with police in Canada would mean losing her four kids. But once she arrived in Surrey, she was put at ease.
"When we walk beside the police or nearby them, they laugh and smile in our faces, so we just felt very comfortable," she said.
Hayes said some newcomers asked if there is a charge to call 911, and whether police would take their immigration papers away if they called an ambulance.
